How much rent can you afford in Fairfax, VA?
Run your salary against Fairfax's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Fairfax
At a median rent of $2,458/mo, Fairfax is very affordable when measured against Fairfax median household income of $132,348/yr. Rent would consume roughly 22% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $98,320 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Fairfax compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Fairfax?
On a $132,348 salary (the Fairfax median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $3,309/mo. Fairfax's median rent is $2,458/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Fairfax?
To keep Fairfax's $2,458/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $98,320/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Fairfax affordable on the median Virginia income?
Fairfax is very affordable on a $132,348 income. Rent would take 22% of pre-tax pay, inside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".